Gaffing and landing net



Jan. 30, 1951 H. F. BALOUN 2,539,563

GAFFING AND LANDING NET Filed June 9, 1949 Il 0,0%/ l v O www, 0 um* N/f40 INVENTOR.

/mky BALau/v l BY Patented Jan. 30, l951 GAFFING AND LANDINGNET' HarryF. Baloun, Cleveland,` Ohio K .Application June-9, 1949, Serial No.97,987

(Cl. 4S-12) 12 Claims. 1

Thislinvention rela-tes to a fishing gai and to alanding net and moreparticularlyy to a come bined shinggaff and landing net.

Hand netsusedV by iishermento landfis-h which'have been hookedi havetheV disadvantage` thatthe iish struggling as they enter the'net andaref'fbeing liftedfrom the Water frequently manage to freer themselvesfromr` the net and dropbackdntofthe water.

suits inthe loss of-` hookedA fish. Also the sh in'struggling. free.fromsthenet is apt to entangle the -net andv the. fishing line,.particularly where mnlti-lfieokl plugs-are being. used.Y In usingtheordinary landing net it is often necessary for a secondsherman.tofassist the first fisherman-in landing the fish by using'a separategaff to gai the iish which has struggled out of the landing, net; Itisrdifficult to .gaff a iish while it is in the water since the fish isnot supported `and is free to move away under the thrust of the gaff.

An object of thel invention is to provide a combined gai and landing netwhich isso constructed that as the iish enters. the net, the lattercollapses and automatically gaiis the fish thus precludingall'likelihood of the iish struggling free from thenet.

A furtherobject is to provide ash gaii which includes a collapsibleframe' carrying the gaif hooks and a web interconnecting spaced framemembers and on vwhich web the iish is supported and'glocated andthengaifed automatically by .the collapsing. of the frame.

Another object is to provide a combinedgaff and landing net wherein thegai proper can bequickly and conveniently arranged in an inactiveposition where itv will not become'entangled in brush orthelike'a'ndwhere the landing` net can be employed as the ordinary collapsiblelanding net or` the netcan be collapsed and folded for storing,packaging or for transportation.

lA stillfurtherl object is to provide a combined gaff and landing netwhich may be readily ma` nipulate'd by one hand to land and gai the shthus leaving the other hand lof the fisherman free to handle the line'.

A further object is to provide a combined gaff and landing Anet which isso construotedand the gai-Eng meansso located that the sh whilesupported by'a portion ofthenet and'- duringgcol'- lap-sing of the netwill be ga'ff'edrearwardly` of'its gills with' the gafingA meansextendingfthrough the vital-organs ofi the fish thus insuring that'thestruggling convulsions of? the fish willquickly be terminated andV theiish securelyv gaffed and prevented from gettingv out of the net.

This makes the landing of fish by theusual net 'difficult and manytimesre A stillffurther object is to providexa combined'- gaiiv andlanding netas referred to in :the above sta/ted objectsandwhich'isfofsimple construction, is readily opened for use or collapsedfor storage, packagingv or transportation and which is effective in'preventingA the loss of. struggling.-

iish being landed by the net.

Further and additional objects andadvantages. not hereinbefore speciedwillbecome apparenty ,hereinafter during the detailed. description. ofembodiments of the invention which is to follow.

and which embodimentsY are illustrated in.V the accompanyingdrawingwherein.:A

Fig; l-is a-perspective viewof 'a combinedgaff and landing net embodyingthe invention, with the net in the open position readyfor use andv priorto` collapsing andwith. the gafing means shown` inV its. activeposition..

Fig- 2'.is. a fragmentary somewhat schematic.

illustrationof thelandingnet and is taken looking toward the open end ofthe net, the net beingY illustratedin open positionby dot and dash linesand in collapsed position by full lines, with the fish being indicatedby. dot' and dash lines` as partially inthe netV and .gaffed the'pathVof movement of the gaiiingmeans from the full'open net position to thecollapsedposition being'indicated by arrows.

Fig. .3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective View of the netshown inFig. land illustrates the gaiii'ng means on one side of the net whensaid means is arranged in` its inactive position,

Fig. 4` is a fragmentary'side elevational view of that portion.` of. thenet shown in Fig. 3Y and indicates the active position of the gaing'means by dotand dash lines.

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken substantiallyonline-5 5 of 'Fig'. 4' looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig 6 is a fragmentary perspective view ofthe end of the handle portionofthe net frame.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line l-flof Fig. lv looking inthe direction of the arrows, andv shows the handleportions of the netframe when the latter is in `open position togetherlwith the positive latch means that retains the net frame in openposition.

Fig. 8 is av sectional viewthrough the handle portion of thenetf'ramebut showing the-relationship off" the handle portions whenl the net is 3collapsed and with the positive latch means omitted.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan View of the handle portions of the netframe showing in full lines the positive latch means in latched pesitionand in dash'lines in unlatched position.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the mounting plate for the gaifng meansshown in the previous views, and

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. 5 butillustrating a modified form of gafng means and mounting therefor whichmay be employed.

The net embodying the invention comprises .two main frame members l5Iand I 6. These members may be formed of any suitable material having adegree of resiliency and preferably possesses buoyance as, for example,the main frame members may be formed of wood, plastic or any othersuitable buoyant material. For purposes of illustration the main framemembers l5 and I6 are vshown as formed of wood and each includes ahandle portion /I and a bowed portion I8. The main frame members I5 `andI are hingedly connected together at the juxtaposed handle portions I1by means of suitable hinges, such as piano hinges I9 secured to thehandle portions while the bowed portions I8 are separated.

The frame members can be swung from open net position, as indicated inFig. 7, to collapsed net position as indicated in Fig. 8, it being notedthat the swinging movement of the frame members from open net positionto collapsed net position follows a downwardly extending arcuate path.

When the framemembers are in open net position the two leaves of thehinge means are in contact and the axis of the hinge means is locatedslightly below the plane of the lower surface of the frame members.

When the frame members are in collapsed net position, as shown in Fig.8, the leaves of the hinge means are in substantially the samehorizontal plane and are located uppermost of the frame members.

The outer ends of the frame members are interconnected by a web W whichplaces the bowed portions I'B under tension. The term web as used inthis specification and in the claims is intended to mean a strip,ribbon, cord or other elongated relatively narrow piece of material.

The web W exerts a tensioned pull on the frame members tending tomaintain the same in net open position. However, when a sh is enteringthe net over the web W and the net is being raised to lift the fish fromthe water the weight of the sh on the Iweb W tends to move the framemembers about the hinge axis from net open position to net collapsedposition.

The web W may be formed of any suitable material and attached to theouter ends of the bowed portions I8 of the frame members in any desiredway. However, one preferred way of attaching the web W to the outer endof the frame members is to have the ends of the web extend around theends of the frame member in contact with the outer sides thereof andclamped to the frame members by means of plates P rigidly secured to theframe members as will later be explained.

The web W is formed preferably but not necessarily of transparentmaterial and may be folded or doubled upon itself so as to have theloops of the cords 20 of the net extending between, the

folds of the strip and held in place by longitudinal stitches in thestrip as fully explained in my copending application Ser. No. 786,307,iiled November 15, 1947, now Patent No. 2,536,251, issued January 2,1951.

Also, as explained in my said copending application, the portions I8 ofthe frame members may be provided with a series of longitudinally spacedopenings through which can pass the loops of the cords Z0 of the net.These loops extend around a holding cord 2| which runs longitudinally ofthe frame members and has its opposite ends passing through they endopenings of said series of openings and suitably knotted to maintain thecord 2| in position all as indicated by the holding cord 30 and knot 38ain my copending application ySerial No. 786,307.

'Ihe frame members are maintained in open net position by positive latchmeans which is shown as comprising a latch plate 22 pivoted at 23 to theupper side of one of the handle portions I'l and provided at its freeend with a slot which can be engaged with a keeper pin 24 secured to theupper side of the other handle portion I1, all as clearly indicated inFigs. 7 and 9.

In order to facilitate the release of the latch plate 22 and itsmovement from the full line position of Fig. 9 to the dot and dash lineposition thereof, said plate is provided withr a raised knurled thumbpad portion 25, wherefore the iisherman can manipulate the net with onehand and by means of his thumb readily release the latch when he desiredto change the condition of the net from open net position to collapsednet position.

As is usual in nets of this general character an elastic loop 26 isattached to the net and by means of which the fisherman suspends the netfrom his shoulder and assuming that the net is in the collapsed positionand it is desired to open the same it is merely necessary for him tounwrap the net and move the frame members from collapsed to open netposition by a single hand manipulation. The elastic loop 26 extendsthrough an eye 2'! which instead of being screwed into one of the handleportions Il extends into a slot 28 formed in the handle portion andcovered by one of the hinge leaves of the hinge means I9. The eye 2l canthen have its shank welded to the hinge leaf forming a secure andpermanent attachment for the eye as distinguished from an eye that wouldbe screwed into the handle portion and might work loose and the net belost.

The plates P which :clamp the ends of the web to the outer ends of theframe portions |8 are held in position by suitable rivets 29 extendingthrough the plates P and through the frame portions l8 as well asthrough inner plates 30 located on the inner sides of the frame portionsI8 as clearly indicated in the drawings and provided at their endsadjacent to the web W with rounded portions 3i about `which the web Wcan bend in collapsing and opening the net without forming in the web Wcreases which might eventually cause the web to wear out.

A metal gaf hook 32 is pivoted on a shouldered threaded stud 33 that isrigidly riveted to the plate P and passes with clearance through anopening in the gaif hook.

The stud 33 is provided at its outer end with a disk-like head 34 whichis located interiorly of a cup-shaped clamping nut 35 that screws on thestud. The head 3Q acts as a limit stop to retain the nut on the stud andis protected by the nut.

animee-,tesY

The exterior o fthenut `maybefsuitably knurled tfacilitateits turningand it will be noted' that s'a'd-nut'rcan be screwedfdown on the studf33to claii'pthe'fga hook; 321m7 the inactive-positionshowninfulllinesg-Figs. 3, Lland 5; or the nut 35 canbeloosenedia'ridthe gai hook 32 swung down'-` waidlyf from the? inactiveposition tothe active position/indicatedby" dot and dash lines'vv inFig.

dandiniwhch position it can'be clarnped'byl Itr will-be notedthat thegaff hook 32 is curved atx again screwing'dovvn the clamping nut 35ivits-"hooked endand when the hook is in its inactivefposition the curvedportion'is located ina recess 36 formed in the plate P while'the-hookon" the e'nd'ofthe gaif hook is located in a recess 3lA formed in theframememberl Consequently the ygaii hook whenl in its inactive positionis sol disposed, and particularly the hooked end thereof', that it willnot catch in thev net proper or in unde'rbrush, shing lines or the like.

The gaff hook 32 Xedly carries a pin 3Slwhich when the gaff'hook is inits inactive position can be inserted-into a hole 39'# in the plateP topositively maintain the gaff hook in its inactive posi* tion. When thenut- 35 is Aloosened-the ga hook may be moved outwardly to disengage thepinSS fro'mitheV hole @Sand then swung downwardly to itsactive dot anddashline position of: Fig. 4. Wheny thegaf hook is in-its activeposition-the pin-38i will register with a notch or opening @sin thevplate P andhe'nce when thevnut 351s again;

tightened the'- pinli'wi'll` be inthe notch-:iil'and will; actto'positively lholdtheV gai hook against turningmovement.

In' Fig. 11V a modied and Somewhat more simpqliiiedA form of gaiif hookand mounting therefor is illustrated. The gai hook in this view is in'-dicated ati 32a andl may be for-med of suitable gauge steel wire whichisb'ent to provide an eye-r It will be understood that the gaff hook32a` is pivoted by means of the eye-4l on a scr-ewi4-3 that is threadedYina-tappedopening formed in thepla'teP and is provided atits outerend=with a head 44. The frame portion I8 is provided with a recess toaccommodate the inner end of thes'crew 43 when said screw is screwedin`r wardlyto'clamp thegarf'hook either in itsinactive position or itsactive position.

The manner in which the net and the gan are used will now be explained.Assuming that the iisherman has opened the net as indicated in Fig. 1and that the positive latch means 22 is in latched position and that thegaimg hooks on the frame members I8 have been moved to and clamped intheir active position he needs only in landing a fish to hold the net inone hand by the handle portions I? thereof and pass the net in the usualmanner under the sh until the iish is partially in the net and extendsacross the web W. He then by means of his thumb releases the latch means22 and the frame members i5 and I6 of the net swing downwardly due tothe hinge I9 and acting under the influence of ie weight of the iish onthe web W and possibly also under the iniiuence of the hand pressureexerted by the iisherman. The downward swinging movement of the framemembers I5 and I 6 causes the gaiiing hooks to follow the path indicatedby the arrows in Fig. 2.

It will befnoted that thefpathof' movement or the gaiiing hooks isKVnot-'truly arcuate but'rnay be described as havingrst an arcuate pathof movement and then'an inward and more nearly straight linepath'ofmovement* 'As-'the net' ap? proaches collapsed condition* thegang'hooksf enter the iishVlr until they-"reach theposition-inditheii'sh is thus securely gaiied and as the fisherman raises the net tolift the iish fromlthew'ate'r theweight ofthe fish will cause thegail'ng'hook's toenter still fartherA into the fish andi'th'us posi-`tively prevent any likelihood? of the fish struggling free from the'net.time the release of the latching'm'eans 22 to occurwhenabout'a third ofthe length of the'flsh .has passed'over the'webWand into theneta's thusthe gaif 'hooks will gathe iish re'earvvardlyv of the gills andwillenter the: vital'organ's of the iish. It will be'seen'itha't thecombined g'ang' and landing net can be readily"rnanipulated'by'` oneLhand and will greatly facilitate the landingv of a-iish.

Although 4preferred embodiments' of ythe invent tion have beenillustratedanddescribed hereint will be understood that the inventionissus--y ceptiblefoffvarious modifications rand adaptations within vthescope of the appendedclaims;l

Having thus described my invention,fI claim:A

1L A'fishing gait comprising a pairl ot'frame"y members havingjuxtaposed handle portionsv andf separated portions, a webinterconnecting the ends of' said separatedfportions, hinge meanssecured to and interconnecting said handle por# tions whereby said framemembers may besw'ung about the hinge axis to'move said separated p'or-`tions from theirA maximum" separated'relationship toward each other; andgaff hooks-secured? to the ends of said separated portions adjacent tothe ends of said webandV extendingfin--the direction of said movement ofsaid separated portions.

2. A shing gafi comprising'ajpair of frame members' having juxtaposedhandle portions" and" means interconnecting said handle portions and Vincluding hinge elements secured to said' handle portions with. thehinge axis extending' lungi.L

ltudinally of the handle portions, Whreby'sad frame'me'mbers may beswung to move said separated portions towardeach other from theirvmaximum separated vvrelationship, andgaff. hooks secured to the ends ofsaid separated ,portions adjacent to the ends of said web and extendingin the direction of said movement of said separated portions.

3. A fishing gaif as denned in claim 1 and wherein said gait hooks arepivotally mounted on the ends of said separated portions and can beswung to an active position wherein the gafi hooks are angularlydisposed with respect to said separated portions or t0 inactive positionwherein the gan' hooks extend parallel to said separated portions andlie closely against said portions, and means is provided for securingsaid gaf.F hooks in either active or inactive position.

4. A iishiug gan as delined in claim 2 and wherein said gai hooks arepivotally mounted on the separated portions adjacent the ends thereofand can be swung/to an active angularly disposed position with respectto said portions or an an inactive parallel position with respectthereto, and means is provided for securing said gaif hooks in eitheractive or inactive position.

5. A combined Vfishing gaff and landing net comprising a pair of framemembers having juxtaposed handle portions and separated bowed portions,a exible web interconnecting the ends .of'said bowed portions, a netproper secured to .said bowed portions and said web, hinge means.interconnecting said handle portions to swing on .a longitudinal axisfrom a position wherein said net is open to a position wherein said netis collapsed, and gaiT hooks secured to the bowed portions adjacent theends thereof and extending angularly with respect to said bowed portionsand in the direction of the net collapsing move ment of said bowedportions.

6. A combined fishing gaff and landing net comprising a pair of framemembers having juxtaposed handle portions and separated bowed portions,a web interconnecting the ends of said bowed portions, a net propersecured to said web and said bowed portions, hinge means interconnectingsaid handle portions to swing about a longitudinal axis from a positionwherein said net is open to one wherein it is collapsed and said bowedportions have moved toward each other, ygai hooks pivotally mounted onsaid bowed portions adjacent the ends thereof and movable from aninactive position wherein they extend longitudinally of and liealongside the bowed portions to an active position wherein they extendsubstantially perpendicular to the bowed portions, and means forsecuring said gan" hooksineither active or inactive position.

7. A combined iishing gaff and landing net as dened in claim 6 andwherein said handle portions are provided with releasable latch meanswhich when latched positively prevent movement of the handle portionsabout the hinge axis and collapsing of the net.

8. A combined iishing gaff and landing net as defined in claimv6 andwherein said bowed portions and said gaff hooks are provided withcooperating interengaging means when said hooks are in either active orinactive position to positively locate the hooks in such active orinactive position.

v 9. A combined shing gaiT and landing net as defined in claim 6 andwherein plates are secured to the outer sides of the bowed portions ofsaid frame members adjacent the ends thereof while threaded clampingmeans are carried by said plates and pivotally mount said gaf hooksthereon to be swung thereabout to either active or inactive position andclamped in either position.

10. A combined fishing gai and landing net as defined in claim 6 andwherein plates are secured to the outer sides of the bowed portions ofthe frame members adjacent the ends thereof and threaded adjustablemeans is carried by said plates and pivotally mount said gaff hooksthereon for movement to either active or inactive position and forclamping said hooks in either` position, said hooks being provided onthe plate sides thereof with pins engaging in cooperating means formedin said plates when said hooks are inactive or inactive position toposi-V tively maintain said hooks against swinging movement.

11. A combined fishing ga and landing net as defined in claim 6 andwherein plates are secured tothe outer sides of said bowed portions ofsaid frame members adjacent the ends thereof, said plates rigidlysupporting outwardly extending threaded studs, said gai hooks beingprovided with openings through which said studs project, wherefore saidhooks are pivotally connected to said plates, and clamping nuts on saidstuds outwardly of said hooks whereby said hooks may be swung to andclamped in either active or inactive position.

l2. A combined iishing gaff and landing net as defined in claim 6 andwherein plates are rigidly secured to the outer sides of said bowedportions of said frame members, said plates being provided with threadedopenings and said bowed portions being provided with recesses aligningwith said openings, headed screws threaded into said openings andadapted to extend into said recesses, said gai hooks being provided witheye portions through which said,

screws extend, wherefore said gaf hooks are pivotally mounted on saidscrews and can be swung t0 either active or inactive position andclamped in either position by said screws.

HARRY F. BALOUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent: f

UNITED STATES PATENTS

